New Standard Graphs webpage alive and kicking for WGCHAIRS meeting

As demonstrated to ICES expert group Chairs this week, visualizations of stock assessment figures can now be generated easily and openly using one database and a newly-live webpage.

Published:
31 January 2014

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​​​​​​​​​ICES Standard Graphs tool has been given a new home – the web. As well as being able to produce graphs for selected fish stocks as before, the new system, which sources statistics from a single stock assessment database, will also allow users to edit plots, change settings, and develop work projects that are also available to those outside of ICES.

Having made the switch from a Microsoft Excel-based operation, the new and improved Standard Graphs package includes fresh features such as a historical comparison plot and the capacity for stock experts to upload data from outside ICES. Additionally, the graphs can be tailored to suit each user's needs, and any tweaks made or settings changed will be saved straight to the database. Because of the provision of web services, the technically adept scientists can query the database directly through their own software tools.

"This means that it's easier to retain your data, play with them, and show them to the outside world," said Barbara Schoute, ICES Advisory Programme Professional Officer, who also explained that plots, once edited, can be entered into advice. "The moment the advice is published, the plots are also published and made available for download through our website."

The application was unveiled to the expert group chairs that had come together as part of the annual WGCHAIRS meeting at ICES Secretariat. A presentation was followed by the fielding of questions and included details on the future option for to people create their own XML files to upload data through either their preferred software tools or Excel spreadsheets.